Liquid dispenser



Jan. 5; 1943.

T. HUSTON LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Sept. 4', 1940 mm i W Patented Jan. 5,1943 warren STATES? rarest OFFIQE LIQUH ]::::;NSER I 7 Tom Huston,Miami, Fla.

Application September My invention relates to liquid dispensers. -It.has among its objects to provide an improved dispenser of the typeadapted to dispense liquids such as shoe dressings or the like, and,more particularly, an improved dispenser of the type described andclaimed in my copending application Serial No. 289,012, filed August 8,1939, now Patent No. 2,279,320, patented April 14, 1942.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an improveddispenser having improved slit means in the'closure for the resilientcontainer whereby, irrespective of the angular location of the points atwhich pressure is applied to the resilient container, the liquid thereinis caused :to be discharged in an improved manner and in such manner asto facilitate the effective use of the device through eliminating anyneed for the resilient dispenser to be pressed at specified oppositelylocated points disposed in a predetermined relation to the slit means. Afurther object of my invention is to provide an improved closure memberfor such a dispenser of an improved laminated construction adapted toenable normally closed slit means to continue to function over a longperiod while the closure retains its resiliency and is free from anydeteriorating effects of the liquid, and also adapted to'preventobjectionable seepage while obtaining an improved spreading action.These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will,

however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustrationcertain embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved liquid dispenser in use;

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the lower end of in vertical section,and the Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view of both the container andclosure member on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the closure member removed from thecontainer;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of this member;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of closure member;

Fig. '7 is'a side elevation of a further modified form of closuremember;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8--8 cfFigure '7 a Fig. 9 is avertical section similar to Figure 8,

but showing another modified construction;

4. 1940, Serial No. 355,380

16 Claims. (01.15-136) formed of non-absorbent sponge rubber having Fig.10 is aside elevation of a still further modified form of, closuremember;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of still another modified structure, and

Fig. 12 is a central vertical section of the 010-- sure shown in Figure11.

Referring first to the illustrative forms shown in Figures 1 to 5, itwill be noted that I have therein shown an elongated resilientnitro-cellulose tube or container I having an open end and having aclosure member, generally indicated at 2, closing that end; this closuremember 2 being of an improved construction hereinafter described.

In this construction, this member 2 is of an improved resilientlaminated construction including three flexibly connected layerscomprising an upper disc or neck portion 3, an intermediate disc portion4, andian applying disc-portion 5.

Ofthese, the neck portion 3- is preferably non-communicating cells such,for example, as Neoprene or other suitable synthetic rubber'with thenon-connecting cells thereof filled with air or nitrogen. In thisconstruction, it will be observed that, as heretofore, cut cells 6 areprovided on the sides of the neck piece and suitably flexibly cementedat'Ba as, for example, by nitrocellulose or neoprene cement, to theinnersurface on theopen end of the tube l. Further,

the exposed top surface of the neck 3 carries an impervious skin I,while the bottom surface thereof may be free from skin and comprise cutcells. It will also be noted that an axial cylindrical aperture 8,preferably of substantial diameter, is

provided which extends clear through the disc 3.

Cooperating with this neck piece 3 and suitably flexibly cemented as at9 to the bottom thereof in such manner as to form a resilientcontinuation thereof, is the intermediate portion or lamination 4.Herein, it is of slightly larger diameter than the neck 3 and the tubel, and coaxially disposed with respect thereto, and also preferablyformed of the same material as the neck 3, and preferably with like skinid on its top surface. This intermediate portion 4, however, has noaxialaperture corresponding to the aperture 8, but, instead, is providedwith improved normally closed liquid discharge means including aplurality of slits spaced from and surrounding the axis of the member 2and having their length deplurality of arcuate slits l0, herein, forillustra- 5 tive purposes, three in number, and disposed in a circulararrangement around the axis of the portion 4, with short uncut portionsll of the latter spacing the ends of adjacent slits l0. Further, it willbe noted that these slits I!) extend clear through the lamination 4, andthat the same are preferably disposed closely adjacent the wall of theaxial aperture 8. As shown, this portion 4 is also provided with cutcells on its sides and bottom surface.

Cooperating withthis intermediate portion 1 is also the bottom applyingportion 5, preferably forming a beveled extension of the portion 4 andsuitably cemented to the cut cell bottom surface: thereof, a by aflexible cemented connection [2, and having the round liquid dischargemeans comprising the slits It and intermediate uncut portions H alsoextended from top to bottom through this portion 5 and communicatingwith the bottom or applying face l3 of the latter.

Herein, this portion 5 i also formed of sponge such slight communicationbetween its cells: that r th applying portion thereof, preferably a thinzone below the doted line [4 shown in Figures l. and 2 is adapted toabsorb a small amount of liquid as, for example, a few drops, throughthe cut applying surface thereof all in such manner as thereby toimprove the spreading action while preventing such a depth ofpenetration as to cause hardening or caking and enabling any retainedmaterial to be readily removed under'running water whenever desired.

In the use of my improved construction, with th closure member 2suitably cemented in the tube I, the latter is grasped near the cap,like a pencil, between the thumb and fingers in any preferred manner.However, instead of requiring that the tube be grasped at diametricallyopposite points at opposite ends of the single straight slits heretoforeprovided in order most effectively to open th latter, in my improvedcircular slit construction, one or two of the slits It is opened,whatever the angular position of the opposite points of pressure betweenthe thumb and fingers. Thus,any need for care on the part of the user inpressing at any particular marked spots on the container is eliminated,and

even the most careless user, when grasping the container, is enabledreadily to obtain the desired limited flow of liquid from the interiorof the container through the circular slits. Further, it will beobserved that the neck lamination 3 is very freely compressible due tothe axial aperture thereon and also permits free communication of theliquid in the container with the inlet of the circular slits at thebottom of the aperture 8. The resilient character of the intermediatesponge rubber portion 4' is also such as normally to maintain theseveral slits Ill in closed position whenever manual pressure isreleased. Similarly, the resilient character of the portion 5 also actnormally to maintain the slits It] closed,

while the resiliency of the several portions is such that the slits willopen whenever the neck piece 3 is pressed, in such manner as tocause'liquid to be discharged through the cut cell applicator surface13, one or more of the normally invisible slits in this surface,indicated bydotted lines in Figure 5, then being opened- Obviously, asliquid is discharged through the slits, the liquid will be spread by theapplicator surface l-3 in a thin film and, as above described, thesurface portion l4 permits such a slight absorption of a few drops ofliquid adjacent the cut surface H! as to facilitate and expeditespreading.

As a result of my improved construction, it is found that althoughwherever pressure is applied, one of the circular slits I8 is adapted tobe fully opened, or two are adapted to be opened part way, the otherslit is so disposed as to tend to be closed by thi pressure in suchmanner as to prevent any excessive supply of liquid. Further it is foundthat through my improved laminated portions and their connections to oneanother, it is made possible to produce a construction which isunaffected by the action of theliquid over long periods, and whichfurther continues to act effectively over long periods to close theslits automatically as soon as manual pressure is released. My improvedlaminated construction also enables both the slits and the neck piece tobe shorter than heretofore, and also enables an axial aperture ofsubstantial diameter to be provided in the neck piece with resultant:increase in the effects of pressure thereon and consequently facilitatedopening of the: slits, Attention. is also directed to the fact that,through my improved: laminated structure including the neck piece andintermediate portion, it is. also made possible to utilize an absorbentapplicator portion such as described and having the; slits extendingtherethrough without objectionable results arising from the somewhatabsorbent character of the applicator portion. In fact, with my improvedconnected neck. and intermediate portions, an even greater depth ofabsorption in the applicator portion than that described is possiblewithout objectionable results, and, although not preferred, with slits.formed. in suitable material and of suitable length, the applyingportion, if desired, may be formed of other more absorbent materialsthan the sponge rubber described, as, for example, a. pile fabric or thelike.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified closure member construction closelysimilar to that shown in Figures 1 to 5, but wherein the skin and cutcell surfaces are alternatively arranged, the top surface of the portion4 being free from skin, as indicated at $5, and, instead, skin I6 beingprovided on the bottom of the neck portion 3. In this construction, itwill-also be observed that the bottom applicator portion 5 is thickerrelative to the intermediate portion 4, than in the construction shownin Figures 1 to 5. In Figures '7 and 8, a further modified constructionis shown, wherein, instead of a sponge rubber intermediate portion,athin resilient. disc I! of ordinary rubber is suitably cemented orotherwise united to the bottom of the neck piece 3 and the top of athicker applicator portion 5, herein of substantially the thickness ofthe combined portions 4 and 5 heretofored'escribed; the circular slitsla in this construction extending through both the laminations' l1 and5. I

In Figure 9, instead of one lamination between the neck piece and theapplicator portion, two thin laminati-ons I8 and I9 are provided. Theselaminations are formed of non-absorbent, soft, fine-grained spongerubber, suchior example, as Rubatex, and comprising tinycell's-filledwith nitrogen. Also, the applicator portion 20-, which isformed of the slightly absorbent materialsuch as that in the portions 5,is thin and quite'substantially thinner than the total depth of thenon-absorbent portions l8 and I9. Thus, the two portions l8 and I8beingimpervious and-con- 'nected by two cement connections, they willnotof the main portion of the body of the applicator.

This is a structure especially adapted to use with colored, asdistinguished fromwhite, dressings, wherein the drying and cloggingproblemhas heretofore been especially troublesome In Figures 10, 11 and12, further modified constructions are shown, wherein the circular slitsextend through not only the applicator and in termediate portions, butalso through the neck [piece 3. In Figure 10,; the neck piece 3 has nocentral aperture 8 upper portion 4, while the laminations l and 5therein and is cemented to the are cemented together by a suitableflexible cemented connection I2 and the same circular slits l extendthrough these portions and also through the neck piece 3 to the innersurface thereof. It will also be understood that if desired an integralsingle member of the same material as either the portion 4 or 5 may besubstituted for the two portions 4 and 5. In Figures ll and 12, it willbe noted that instead of discontinuous slits It] in the neck piece 3,one continuous slit 2| is cut out around a central portion or plug 22.The latter herein also has its bottom 23 cemented to the top of theapplicator portion 24 around slits it provided therein. Here, also theportion 24, while not limited thereto, is preferably of laminated type,such, for example, as that shown in Figure 9. If desired, the neck piece3 may also be laminated in any of my forms.

ile in certain figures I have shown the slits "l0 and 2| as openings ofsubstantial width, it will be understood that this is for purposes ofillustration, the slits normally being closed and invisible.

While I have herein specifically described certain forms which myinvention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the samehave been chosen for purposes of illustration, and that *the inventionmay be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from itsspirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a resilient container having an open end, aresilient closure member f for said end, and normally closed liquiddischarge means including a plurality of slits in said member disposedperipherally end to end about a central. portion of said member andopenable in response to pressures on the periphery of an adjaecntportion of said container applied at any opposite points on saidperiphery.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a resilient container having an open end, aresilient closure member for said end, and normally closed liquiddischarge means including a plurality of slits in said member spacedfrom the axis of said member and having their length defining the marginof a central portion of said member and at least one of which slits isopenable in response to pressures applied at any diametrically oppositepoints on the periphery of an adjacent portion of said container.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a resilient container having an open end, aresilient closure member for said end, and normally closed liquiddischarge means including a plurality of slits in said member disposedend to end around and spaced from the axis of said member and definingthe periphery of a central portion thereof, said member slits openinginto the adjacent end of said aperture and being responsive to pressuresapplied to said neck at any opposite points on the periphery of anadjacent portion of said container to open said slits. 1 7 h 4. Ina-liquid dispenser, a resilient container having an open end, aresilient closure member for said end, and normally closed liquiddischarge means including a plurality of slitsin said member spaced fromand disposed around the axis of saidmemb'er and having their lengthdefining the margin of a central portion thereof of substantial area,said closure member having a neck portion of reduced cross sectionextending into said end and said slits extending through said neckportion and being responsive to pressures applied to said neck at anyopposite points on the periphery of an adjacent portion of saidcontainer to open certain of said slits.

5. In a combined closure and applicator memher, a resilient closuremember including an apertured neck portion and a coaxially disposedresilient body portion of larger cross section carrying said neck, andnormally closed liquiddischarge means in said body portion including atleast three slits spaced from one another and the axis of said memberand having their length directed marginally around a central portion ofsaid member of substantially area.

6. In a combined closure and applicator member,'a'resilient' closuremember including a neck portion and a coaxially disposed resilient bodyportion of larger cross section carrying said neck, andliquid dischargemeans including at least three normally closed slits in said memberspaced and liquid discharge means including at least three normallyclosed slits in said member spaced from the axis of said member anddisposed end to end peripherally around a central portion of saidmember, said neck portion having said slit extending therethrough. T

8. In a combined closure and applicator member, a plurality ofsuperimposed resilient portions having adjacent flexibly connected facesand including an axially apertured neck portion and a coaxially disposedbody portion of increased diameter, and liquid discharge means includinga plurality of normally closed slits in said body portion disposed endto end and defining the periphery of a central portion of said memberand opening into the bottom of said axial aperture.

9. In a combined closure and applicator member, a plurality ofsuperimposed resilient portions having adjacent flexibly connected facesand including a neck portion and a coaxially disposed body portion ofincreased diameter, and liquid discharge means including a plurality ofspaced normally closed slits in said member disposed end to end around acentral portion of said member and receiving liquid through said neckportion and delivering through said body portion, said body portioncomprising a plurality of flexibly connected laminations including anintermediate fiuid impervious resilient portion having said normallyclosed slits. therein and; an. applicator portion receivingliquid fromsaid slits.

10; In a combined closure and applicator member, a plurality of flexiblyconnected superimposed sponge rubber discs having non-communicatingcells, certain of said discs having an axial aperture therein and othersbeing unapertured and of larger diameter and having, liquid dischargemeans including a plurality of normally closed slits therein disposedperipherally end to end about a central portion of saidmember andopening into the inner end of said. aperture, and an applicator disccarried on the. under surface of the disc remote from said aperture andhaving an outlet for said slits.

I1. Ina combined closure and applicator memher, a plurality of flexiblyconnected superimposed sponge rubber discs having. n0n=communicating;cells, and having an upstanding neck; and

a body portion of larger diameter and liquid charge means including aplurality of normally closed slits peripherally disposed end to endabout a central portion of said member and opening through said neck andbody portion, and an applicator disc carried on the under surface ofsaid body portion and having an outlet for said slits, said applicatordisc having an absorbent applying portion and said first mentioned discsbeing non-absorbent and preventing the supply of liquid to said applyingportion save through said slits. V

12. A combined closure and applicator memher having a plurality offlexibly connected superimposed sponge rubber discs havingnon-communicating cells, certain of said discs forming a neck portionand others being of larger diameter and said member having liquiddischarge means including a plurality of normally closed slits disposedperipherally end to endv about a central portion of said member andopening through said neck portion, and an applicator disc flexiblyconnected to and forming the under surface of said member, saidapplicator disc being of sponge rubber having a limited communicationbetween cells on the applying portion thereof and also having acontinuation of said slits extending therethrough.

13. In a combined closure and applicator member, a plurality of flexiblyconnected superimposed discs, one of sponge rubber and havingnon-communicating cells and an axial aperture, and the other of largerdiameter and of ordinary rubber and. having, liquid discharge. meansincluding a plurality of normally closed, slits, disposed: peripherallyendto end about a central portion of said member and opening, into thebottom of said aperture, and an applicator disc of sponge rubber on theunder surface of said. last mentioned disc andhaving said slitsextendingtherethrough'.

14. A combined closure and applicator member having a sponge rubber neckportion, and a flexibly connected laminated body portion of largerdiameter including a rubber intermediate portion, and a sponge rubberapplicator disc, and liquid discharge means including a plurality ofnormally closed slits disposed peripherally end to end about a centralportion, of; said member for supplying liquid through said memberreceiving liquid through said neck portion and extending through saidintermediate portion and saidapplicator disc and opened, and closed uponpressing and releasing said neck portion.

15. In a combined closure and applicator member, a neck portion, anintermediate portion of larger diameter, an applicator disc on saidintermediate portion, and liquid discharge means including a pluralityof normally closed slits for supplying liquid through said memberdisposed peripherally endto end at spaced intervals around a centralunslit portion of said member and receiving liquid through said neckportion and extending through said intermediate portion and applicatordisc and opened and closed upon pressing and releasing said neck portionatany opposite points on the periphery thereof, said neck andintermediate portions being resilient and flexibly connected and ofnon-porous char acterand said applicator disc being flexibly connectedto said intermediate. portion and having a porous applicator portion.

16. A combined closure and applicator member comprising superimposeddiscs and having a neck portion, an intermediate laminated portion oflarger diameter, and an applicator portion on said intermediate portion,said discs being flexibly connected to produce a flexible unit and saidneck and intermediate portions being liquid impervious and resilient andsaid applicator portion having a porous applying portion, and normallyclosed slit means disposed'axially in said member and spaced from anddisposed around the axis of said member.

TOM HUSTON.

